1877-12-11 (108lbs) [[Tommy Hawkins]] drew 41 (finish) [[Punch Dowsett]], Victoria Skating Rink, Hoxton, London, England. Referee: Robert Watson. Billed for the English 108lbs title and a £50 silver cup, using two-ounce gloves, it was evenly contested throughout and was ranked as possibly the greatest glove fight ever seen up to that time. Hawkins (107½), whose left eye began to close in the fifth round, was soon concentrating on landing to the head while Dowsett (108) was happy to wear his rival down with body punches, as well as showing much cleverness when making punches miss. In the 18th Hawkins fought Dowsett all over the ring and in the 27th he was lucky to escape with a caution when striking the latter after time had been called. The following session saw Hawkins groggy, slipping down on the call of time, but Dowsett did not follow up his advantage despite having the better of it right through to the 35th. There was little damage done from that round onwards, and at the end of the 41st session the referee informed the audience that the venue had to close at midnight, ordering that the fight be continued the following night. However, when both men declined a draw was declared.

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Referee: [[Robert Watson]]. Billed for the English 108lbs title and a £50 silver cup, using two-ounce gloves, it was evenly contested throughout and was ranked as possibly the greatest glove fight ever seen up to that time. Hawkins (107½), whose left eye began to close in the fifth round, was soon concentrating on landing to the head while Dowsett (108) was happy to wear his rival down with body punches as well as showing much cleverness when making punches miss. In the 18th Hawkins fought Dowsett all over the ring and in the 27th was lucky to escape with a caution when striking the latter after time had been called. The following session saw Hawkins groggy and slipping down on the call of time, but Dowsett did not follow up his advantage despite having the better of it right through to the 35th. There was little damage done from that round onwards and at the end of the 41st session the referee informed the audience that the venue had to close at midnight, ordering that the fight be continued the following night. However, when both men declined a draw was declared.

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[[Category: 1877 Title Contests]]

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[[Category: Bantamweight Division]]

Revision as of 08:48, 20 November 2012

1877-12-11 (108lbs) Tommy Hawkins drew 41 (finish) Punch Dowsett, Victoria Skating Rink, Hoxton, London, England. Referee: Robert Watson. Billed for the English 108lbs title and a £50 silver cup, using two-ounce gloves, it was evenly contested throughout and was ranked as possibly the greatest glove fight ever seen up to that time. Hawkins (107½), whose left eye began to close in the fifth round, was soon concentrating on landing to the head while Dowsett (108) was happy to wear his rival down with body punches, as well as showing much cleverness when making punches miss. In the 18th Hawkins fought Dowsett all over the ring and in the 27th he was lucky to escape with a caution when striking the latter after time had been called. The following session saw Hawkins groggy, slipping down on the call of time, but Dowsett did not follow up his advantage despite having the better of it right through to the 35th. There was little damage done from that round onwards, and at the end of the 41st session the referee informed the audience that the venue had to close at midnight, ordering that the fight be continued the following night. However, when both men declined a draw was declared.